Journals / Uluslararası Afro-Avrasya Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 11 Sayı: 22

NARCOTERRORISM, ORGANIZED CRIME ORGANIZATIONS AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY IN LATIN AMERICA

LATİN AMERİKA’DA NARKOTERÖR, ORGANİZE SUÇ ÖRGÜTLERİ VE DEVLET EGEMENLİĞİ

Yağız Atay(MİLLİ SAVUNMA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ATATÜRK STRATEJİK ARAŞTIRMALAR ENSTİTÜSÜ, STRATEJİ VE GÜVENLİK ARAŞTIRMALARI ANABİLİM DALI)0009-0007-4420-9737
Güngör Şahin(MİLLİ SAVUNMA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ATATÜRK STRATEJİK ARAŞTIRMALAR ENSTİTÜSÜ, STRATEJİ VE GÜVENLİK ARAŞTIRMALARI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-6296-8568
Pages
1–17
Publication Date
2026-01-31
DOI
—
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This article will analyze these crime groups, particularly drug cartels, within the framework of state sovereignty.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Latin America is a region frequently discussed in the context of state capacity and state fragility.
📊
Key Findings & Data:It is a well-established fact that these organized crime groups have grown strong enough in certain areas to challenge state authority and command significant financial resources.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:This article will analyze these crime groups, particularly drug cartels, within the framework of state sovereignty.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Organize Suç Örgütleri · Uyuşturucu Kaçakçılığı · Narkoterör

Abstract

Latin America is a region frequently discussed in the context of state capacity and state fragility. The weaknesses of states in this region manifest in various ways. While Latin America is often studied in terms of economic crises, political instability, terrorist organizations, political factionalism, and coups, one critical outcome of low state capacity—transnational organized crime groups—has not been sufficiently explored in the academic literature. It is a well-established fact that these organized crime groups have grown strong enough in certain areas to challenge state authority and command significant financial resources. Therefore, examining these criminal organizations in the context of state capacity and fragility would make a significant contribution to the literature. This article will analyze these crime groups, particularly drug cartels, within the framework of state sovereignty.

Özet

Latin Amerika, devlet kapasitesi ve devlet kırılganlığı bağlamında sıklıkla tartışılmış bir coğrafyadır. Söz konusu bölgedeki devletlerin zayıflıkları, sonuçlarını birçok farklı şekilde gösterir. Latin Amerika, ekonomik krizler, siyasi istikrarsızlık, terör örgütleri ya da siyasi hizipleşme ve darbeler bağlamında sıklıkla çalışılan bir bölge olsa da, devlet kapasitesinin düşüklüğünün en önemli sonuçlarından biri olan ulus aşırı organize suç örgütleri, akademik literatürde yeterince çalışılmış bir konu değildir. Söz konusu organize suç örgütlerinin kimi bölgelerde devletlere meydan okuyacak kadar güçlendikleri ve büyük finansal kaynaklara hükmettikleri bilinen bir gerçektir. Dolayısı ile söz konusu suç örgütlerinin devlet kapasitesi ve devlet kırılganlığı bağlamında incelenmesi, literatüre önemli bir katkı olacaktır. Bu makale, söz konusu suç örgütlerini, özellikle uyuşturucu kartellerini devlet egemenliği bağlamında inceleyecek ve uyuşturucu ticareti ile uğraşan organize suç örgütlerinin, devletlerin içinde bulunduğunu kırılganlık kısır döngüsünü nasıl derinleştirdiği sorusuna cevap arayacaktır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Atay, Y., Şahin, G. (2026). NARCOTERRORISM, ORGANIZED CRIME ORGANIZATIONS AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY IN LATIN AMERICA. Uluslararası Afro-Avrasya Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 22, 1–17. https://ajindex.com/articles/1564118

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (46)

  1. ACEMOĞLU, D., ROBINSON, J. A. ve SANTOS, R. (2013). “The Monopoly of Violence: Evidence from Colombia”, Journal of the European Economic Association, 11(1): 5–44.
  2. AL-AMERI, A. (2014). “Venezuela’s Drug-Running Generals May Be Who Finally Ousts Maduro”, VICE, https://www.vice.com/en/article/venezuelas-drug-running-generals-may-be-who-finally-ousts-maduro/, (Erişim: 31.03.2025).
  3. ANADOLU AGENCY (2022). “PKK-Affiliated Gangs Control Drug Trade in UK”, Anadolu Agency, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/pkk-affiliated-gangs-control-drug-trade-in-uk/2738227, (Erişim: 21.04.2025).
  4. ANDERSON, J. L. (2017). “Manuel Noriega, a Thug of a Different Era”, The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/manuel-noriega-a-thug-of-a-different-era, (Erişim: 30.05.2025).
  5. ANTER, A. (2019). “The Modern State and Its Monopoly on Violence”, The Oxford Handbook of Max Weber, Editörler Edith Hanke, Lawrence Scaff & Sam Whimster, Oxford Handbooks Online, Oxford University Press
  6. BJÖRNEHED, E. (2004). “Narco-Terrorism: The Merger of the War on Drugs and the War on Terror”, Global Crime, 6(3–4): 305–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/17440570500273440.
  7. BOWDEN, M. (2001). Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw, Grove Atlantic, New York.
  8. CARROLL, R. (2009). “US Deports 'Minister for Cocaine' Luis Arce-Gómez to Bolivia”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/10/luis-arce-gomez-bolivia-deported, (Erişim: 10.07.2025).
  9. CHÁVEZ CHÁVEZ, E. M. (2023). “Shining Path and Its Alliance with Drug Trafficking in the VRAEM”, Centro de Estudios Estratégicos del Ejército del Perú (CEEEP), https://ceeep.mil.pe/2023/09/07/shining-path-and-its-alliance-with-drug-trafficking-in-the-vraem/?lang=en, (Erişim: 03.09.2025).
  10. COOK, C. W. (2007). CRS Report for Congress: Mexico’s Drug Cartels, Congressional Research Service, Washington, DC.
  11. CRONIN, A. K. (2009). How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
  12. DİÁLOGO AMÉRICAS (2024). “Maduro Actively Involved in Cartel of the Suns, Report Says”, Diálogo Américas, https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/maduro-actively-involved-in-cartel-of-the-suns-report-says/, (Erişim: 05.09.2024).
  13. DOĞAN, F. C. (2025). “Income Inequality, Economic Growth, and Crime Relationship: An Empirical Analysis of South and Latin America”, Uluslararası Ekonomi ve Yenilik Dergisi, 11(1): 67–81. https://doi.org/10.20979/ueyd.1624384
  14. FAUST, J. (2007). Statehood and Governance: Challenges in Latin America, German Development Institute, Bonn.
  15. FRAGILE STATES INDEX (2025a). “What Does State Fragility mean?”, Fragile States Index, https://fragilestatesindex.org/frequently-asked-questions/what-does-state-fragility-mean/, (Erişim: 25.21.2025).
  16. FRAGILE STATES INDEX (2025b). “Indicators”, Fragile States Index, https://fragilestatesindex.org/indicators/, (Erişim: 10.01.2025).
  17. FRAGILE STATES INDEX (2025c). “Methodology”, Fragile States Index, https://fragilestatesindex.org/methodology/, (Erişim: 10.01.2025).
  18. HERRE, B. ve ARRIAGADA, P. (2023). “State Capacity”, Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/state-capacity#article-citation, (Erişim: 25.12.2025).
  19. JRAISSATI, J. (2021). “Maduro says Duque turning Colombia into ‘narco-state’”, Anadolu Agency, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/maduro-says-duque-turning-colombia-into-narco-state/2150867, (Erişim: 25.12.2025).
  20. KAY, C. (2010). Latin American Theories of Development and Underdevelopment, Erasmus University Rotterdam. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203835418
  21. KITROEFF, N. ve BERGMAN, R. (2023). “Why Did a Drug Gang Kill 43 Students? Text Messages Hold Clues”, The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/world/americas/mexico-iguala-students-kidnapping.html, (Erişim: 07.09.2025).
  22. KLECK, N. (2011). Hezbollah Operations in the Tri-Border Area of South America, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.
  23. KOLBA, G. (2020). “The Story of the Bloody Budapest Assassination Ordered by Pablo Escobar”, Daily News Hungary, https://dailynewshungary.com/the-story-of-the-bloody-budapest-assassination-ordered-by-pablo-escobar/, (Erişim: 09.07.2025).
  24. LABROUSSE, A. (2005). “The FARC and the Taliban’s Connection to Drugs”, The Journal of Drug Issues, 35: 169–184.
  25. LEVITT, M. (2013). South of the Border, a Threat from Hezbollah, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/south-border-threat-hezbollah, (Erişim: 13.09.2025).
  26. MAKARENKO, T. (2004). “The Crime-Terror Continuum: Tracing the Interplay Between Transnational Organised Crime and Terrorism”, Global Crime, 6(1): 129–145.
  27. MOHNBLATT, D. (2022). “Jihad in Latin America: Illicit Activities in the Region Fund Hezbollah”, The Jerusalem Post, https://www.jpost.com/international/article-720003, (Erişim: 13.09.2025).
  28. QUILLEN, C. (2002). “Mass Casualty Bombings Chronology”, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 25(5): 293–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/10576100290101205.
  29. REALUYO, C. B. (2023). “Rising Concerns about Hezbollah in Latin America Amid Middle East Conflict”, Wilson Center – Latin America Program, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/rising-concerns-about-hezbollah-latin-america-amid-middle-east-conflict, (Erişim: 25.12.2025).
  30. ROLLINS, J. ve WYLER, L. S. (2013). Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service, Washington, DC.
  31. ROTBERG, R. I. (2003). “Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators”, içinde State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, DC, ss. 19–21.
  32. SAMPLE, S. J. (1998). Drug Cartels: A Threat to National Security, Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Alabama.
  33. SILKE, A. (2020). Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Routledge, Londra.
  34. SIMSER, J. (2011). “Plata o Plomo: Penetration, the Purchase of Power and the Mexican Drug Cartels”, Journal of Money Laundering Control, 14(3): 266–278.
  35. STEVENSON, M. ve VERZA, M. (2024). “Case of Mexico’s 43 Missing Students Persists among Tens of Thousands of Disappearances”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/mexico-missing-students-ayotzinapa-fc8bd404a2c8966e8ee75333e0101753, (Erişim: 13.09.2025).
  36. THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE (2025). The Contras, Cocaine, and Covert Operations, https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB2/index.html, (Erişim: 13.09.2025).
  37. THE WASHINGTON POST (2025). “Trump Wants to Label Mexican Cartels as Terrorists”, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/01/21/trump-cartels-terrorists-mexico/, (Erişim: 21.01.2025).
  38. THE WHITE HOUSE (2025). Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/designating-cartels-and-other-organizations-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-and-specially-designated-global-terrorists/, (Erişim: 27.01.2025).
  39. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (UNODC) (2025). World Drug Report 2025, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, https://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2025.html, (Erişim: 26.12.2025).
  40. VALENCIA, D. (2014). The Evolving Dynamics of Terrorism: The Terrorist-Criminal Nexus of Hezbollah and the Los Zetas Drug Cartel, Capstone Projesi, University of Texas.
  41. VAN DUN, M. (2012). “The Drugs Industry and Peasant Self-Defence in a Peruvian Cocaine Enclave”, International Journal of Drug Policy, 23(6): 442–448.
  42. WALKER, C. (2025). “Trump White House Is Considering Using Drones to Bomb Cartels in Mexico — Report”, Truthout, https://truthout.org/articles/trump-white-house-is-considering-using-drones-to-bomb-cartels-in-mexico-report/, (Erişim: 08.09.2025).
  43. WINDLE, J., MORRISON, J. F., WINTER, A. ve SILKE, A. (2018). Historical Perspectives on Organized Crime and Terrorism, Routledge, New York.
  44. WINDLE, J. (2018). “Fundraising, Organised Crime and Financing Terrorism”, in Silke, A. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Routledge, s. 195
  45. YENAL, S. ve BEGENİRBAŞ, M. (2019). “Değişen Terörizm Konseptinde Latin Amerika Ülkelerinde Terörizmin Değerlendirilmesi”, Kara Harp Okulu Bilim Dergisi, 29(2): 203–227
  46. FRAGILE STATES INDEX (2025a). “What Does State Fragility mean?”, Fragile States Index, https://fragilestatesindex.org/frequently-asked-questions/what-does-state-fragility-mean/, (Erişim: 25.21.2025).